On November 17, 2015, the ADE Charter Authorizing Panel voted to approve the application of Arkansas Connections Academy, a proposed virtual open-enrollment charter school. On January 14, 2016, the State Board of Education met and approved the decision made by the Panel. Arkansas Connections Academy will be allowed to serve students across the state in the fall of 2016.

While the school is being operated by a nonprofit organization, it contracts services to a private corporation which has ties to Pearson. For more information, readers can access this article.